Voters vindicate elections
The Nov. 8 election felt like a referendum on reality. After all, it’s not exactly logical to ask people to vote for you, then repeatedly tell them you think our elections are rigged. So an overwhelming number of voters seemed to ask: “Why should I waste my vote on someone who doesn’t even believe in the process?”
As a Democrat, I’m happy with the results of the election. I’m relieved that Democrats maintained the Senate and won so many seats as governor and secretary of state — crucial posts of protecting both citizens and elections. It’s also reassuring that Democrats won so many other state and local races; candidates whose party believes in this country and its election process ought to be rewarded.
But it’s fine that Republicans won a majority in the House (or at least it looks like they will at the time of this writing), because it will restore a balance of power without destroying anything that has already been accomplished in the last two years. Beyond that, even if one doesn’t trust their opponent, in order to have peace, one must be willing to see them win occasionally.
But what inspires me and restores my hope in America is the people. They’re not just “voters,” they’re human beings who arranged to vote by mail or vote early, or who left their homes on election day to stand in line, sometimes for hours, to vote not just for their candidate but for their country. Except in some very red districts, the majority voted for the people who still believe in democracy, in the Constitution and in freedom for the individual — all individuals. They were not swayed by lies, seduced by conspiracies, or threatened by bullies at the polls. They also seemed to see that inflation is a worldwide phenomenon and that while the Democrats may not have all the answers for bringing it down, Republicans didn’t seem to have any. These people voted their conscience, and as their fellow citizen, I thank them sincerely.
After all the polls and media stories about a big red wave, I expected Nov. 9 to be the beginning of the end of democracy in America, but I now feel that it was the beginning of the end of lies, manipulation and threats to our democracy. Candidates have been put on notice that lying to the public is a failing strategy; even if you survive for a while, you won’t last long. The balloon ultimately pops or just loses oxygen.
This election restored my faith in the American people in other ways, too: It revealed that at least 50 percent of voters can still think clearly for themselves, still treasure the Constitution, still value democracy and, moreover, are willing to get up and do something to protect their rights and the rights of others.
Beyond the voter, thanks go to the thousands of volunteers on the ground who got out the vote, distributed signs, wrote letters to voters and cured ballots after the election. They, and all those who made financial contributions to save this country, were integral to this change of course.
In the races where it came down to a few votes, we all just witnessed the value of a single vote. Bless us every one who made the conscious choice to participate in democracy. Let’s promise each other to keep it going.